Braking cane

ABSTRACT

There is a walking cane, for supporting and balancing a user, and allowing a user to retard forward motion. The walking cane includes a base, having a wheel rotatably coupled thereto. The cane further includes a braking member, coupled to and positioned relatively above the base, having a contact portion that contacts the wheel to retard the wheel&#39;s rotation when a threshold downward force is applied to the cane.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] A walking cane having wheels that utilizes an improved brakingsystem.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Walking canes are widely used to assist aged and infirmindividuals in maintaining balance, as well as to provide support.Typically, a walking cane includes an elongate shaft having a handle onone end, and some sort of support base on the other end. The supportbase is frequently just the end of the elongate shaft with a cushion tipmade of rubber or some other high resistance material.

[0003] By broadening the support base, greater stability is imparted tothe cane, and thus to the user. However, in broadening the support base,there is a resultant increase in the overall mass of the cane. This masscan make maneuvering the walking cane very cumbersome particularly toaged or infirm individuals. Therefore, a walking cane that provides theadded support of a broader base, but is relatively easy for the user tomaneuver, would be advantageous.

[0004] Additionally, there are available a variety of walkers and canesthat are capable of braking under various circumstances. Such brakingavailability is advantageous, particularly in canes having wheeledmotion. For example, if a user is falling, a braking system can stopforward motion of the support base, thus allowing the user to supporthimself on the cane while regaining his footing. However, in designing abraking system, an important consideration is the complexity ofinstalling the system, and the ease of use. Highly complex brakingsystems add considerable manufacturing expense that is passed on to theconsumer in higher prices. Additionally, complex braking systems mayrequire considerable strength to actuate. For example, a hand-actuatedbraking system requires a certain threshold of pressure be applied, bythe user's hand, to the brake handle. Since walking aids are primarilyused by aged and infirm individuals, a braking system that requiressignificant physical exertion would not be suitable. Therefore, awalking cane having a braking system that is simple to install andrelatively easy to actuate would be advantageous.

[0005] A number of prior patents disclose walking aids, some of whichinclude braking systems. Examples of these patents, each of which isincorporated by reference for its supporting teachings, are as follows:

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,953 to Pasulka discloses a walker cart for anambulatory patient that includes a telescoping rod with a holder at thetop end of the rod for holding one or more intravenous solution bags towhich the patient is connected, and frame members to which infusion pumpelements may be connected for the patient. The cart includes casterwheels for maneuvering the cart and handle elements which may be graspedby the ambulatory patient in several different ways, according to thedesiderata or capability of the ambulatory patient.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,457 to Tartaglia discloses a useful caneassembly for the handicapped for walking and maneuvering with ease,having the person's weight on the cane assembly being continuouslysupported. The cane is supported by a base which is on wheels.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,651 to Einbinder discloses a controller forwheeled vehicles that includes a mechanism which selectively shifts thevehicle between a mobile and a stable state. The vehicle may be a walkerfor easing an operator's efforts in walking and includes a selectivelyactuable stabilizer which fixes the position of the walker or releasesit for rolling motion, thus providing a stable state or a mobile state,respectively. An actuator such as a button, pressure sensor, or lever,electrically and/or mechanically actuates a stabilizer brake mechanismto engage or release the brake and thereby allow the walker's mobilityto be controlled when the actuator operates the brake to stabilize or toslow the motion of the walker. Preferably, lift applied to the vehicleitself releases the brake and allows mobility. The actuator may controlan electrically actuated braking mechanism, in response to a sensor suchas a strain gauge that may be adjusted to the needs of the patient;alternatively, lifters may be provided to act in response to the liftingforce.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,959 to Hiller et al. discloses a removabletray for a walker including a walker having a pair of spaced upper sidebars. Further provided are a pair of walker coupling mechanisms adaptedto be coupled to an associated side bar of the walker via clamps. A trayis slidably coupled to the walker coupling mechanism such that onlylateral relative movement is allowed prior to use. Finally, at least oneflexible strip is coupled at a first end thereof to the tray forcoupling about at least one of the side bars of the walker to precludelateral movement of the tray during use.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,577 to Gordon discloses a coupler made fromcylindrical tubing that has elastically deformable ends. Each end has abifurcation. The bifurcations are mutually perpendicular. One of thebifurcations has a walker coupling location with an orthogonalprojection that includes an arc of a circle that has a diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of a cylindrical horizontal memberof a walker. The other of the bifurcations has an IV stand couplerlocation with an orthogonal projection that includes an arc of a circlethat has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a cylindricalmember of an IV stand.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,639 to Einbinder discloses a controller forwheeled vehicles that includes a mechanism which selectively shifts thevehicle between a mobile and a stable state. The vehicle may be a walkerfor easing an operator's efforts in walking and includes a selectivelyactuable stabilizer which fixes the position of the walker or releasesit for rolling motion, thus providing a stable state or a mobile state,respectively. An actuator such as a button, pressure sensor, or lever,electrically and/or mechanically actuates a stabilizer brake mechanismto engage or release the brake and thereby allow the walker's mobilityto be controlled when the actuator operates the brake to stabilize or toslow the motion of the walker. Preferably, lift applied to the vehicleitself releases the brake and allows mobility. The actuator may controlan electrically actuated braking mechanism, in response to a sensor suchas a strain gauge that may be adjusted to the needs of the patient;alternatively, lifters may be provided to act in response to the liftingforce.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,240 to Gairdner discloses a device used by askater for controlling speed and maintaining balance on wheeled skates.The device includes a molded elongate body with a fork for receiving awheel at one end and a hand grip at the other end. The body includes abrake assembly for applying a braking force to the wheel or to theground. The invention also relates to a brake pad and a wheel havingcorresponding tongues and grooves for frictional contact. The inventionalso relates to a method for learning to skate using the control device.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,100 to Sfeir discloses a vibrational walkingapparatus including a frame having flexible projections capable ofdetecting obstructions to the front or sides of the user. Widthprojections can extend laterally from the frame to detect apredetermined width of the user. The apparatus can include a heightsensor to determine if an object will contact the upper extremities ofthe user. A vibrator located adjacent a handle is activated by switchescoupled to the flexible projections and height sensor in order toprovide a different vibrational frequency to the handle when one of therespective flexible projections or height sensor is activated.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,487 to Chien discloses a hand brake thatincludes a mounting frame mounted on a handlebar grip of a wheeledwalker and defining a working space with an open side and a closed endwall. A cable pull block is disposed inside the working space, and hasan upper part pivoted to the mounting frame by a first pivot, and alower part serving as a force bearing part and connected to atransmission cable under tension. A control lever has a pivot partextending into the working space via the open side thereof, and anoperating part extending outwardly of the working space. The pivot parthas an upper portion that is provided with an upwardly openingaccommodating space. The accommodating space has a base wall. The cablepull block extends downwardly into the accommodating space such that thelower part confronts the base wall. The lower part of the control leveris pivoted to the cable pull block by a second pivot parallel to anddisposed below the first pivot. The control lever is operable from anon-braking state to a braking state, where the cable pull block ispivoted by the control lever about the first pivot to apply a pullingforce to the transmission cable.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,502 B1 to Chung-Che discloses a brakemechanism for an auxiliary walker that has a fixed seat, a control plateand a hand grip. The fixed seat is hollow at an inner portion of ahandle at one top end thereof. The control plate has formed horizontalguide hole at bottom one side and further formed a fixed hole at bottomone surface. The hand grip is provided with a long trough hole at oneend thereof providing the control plate to insert in. The control platetogether with said hand grip are all be inserted into the fixed seatfastening by plurality screws at the top end of control plate and fixedseat.

[0016] U.S. Pat. No. Des. 401,541 to Ahlbertz discloses an ornamentaldesign for a brake handle for a walker.

[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,748 to Oat-Judge discloses a walker that hasa basket, a handle for use in pushing the walker along an upwardlyfacing surface and a plurality of legs connected to the basket and tothe handle. The legs have lower ends, and a wheel and a braking elementare associated with the lower end of each leg. A braking mechanism isprovided for automatically actuating the braking elements and causingsame to engage the upwardly facing surface if a predetermined weight isapplied to the handle or to the basket, thus to stop the walker. Thewalker also has a manually operable brake system whereby the user candeliberately bring the walker to a stop.

[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,517 to Lorman discloses a rollable walker fortraversing stairs and substantially level surfaces, comprising a framewhich includes a left and a right upright members, the left and rightupright members including front legs, and an upper segment. The framefurther includes a crossbar which is pivotaly connected to the left anda right upright members, the crossbar including a generally U-shapedtransverse element and vertically disposed segments acting as rear legs.The crossbar is supported by supporting means. The supporting means isattached or integrally formed with the left and right upright members. Apair of rear wheels and a pair of front wheels engaged by wheel mounts,each wheel having two vertical planar surfaces. The rear wheels areconnected to the rear legs, whereas the front wheels are connected tothe front legs. The vertical planar surfaces of the wheels aresurrounded by protrusions; and, two pairs of braking devices connectedto the rear and front legs, each of the braking devices is slidablysupported by one of the wheel mounts over one of the wheels in such away that the application on the frame of a downward force of a magnitudegreater than a pre-determined value urges the braking devices againstthe wheels to brake the walker.

[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,063 to Doyle et al. discloses a walking aidfor physically challenged persons having front and back leg assemblieseach having a front leg extending forwardly and a rear leg extendingrearwardly and wheels at the lower ends of the legs, and modular hingesat the upper ends of each pair of legs. Each modular hinge has a bearinghousing with bearing recesses, two bearing bodies, each bearing bodybeing received in a respective recess. Each bearing body isinterengagable with a respective front or rear leg, and, a transverseassembly bar is connected to the hinge mounting and secures the hingesin spaced apart side by side relation. Also disclosed is a brake lockingsystem for an in-line two part brake handle, and a multi-use seat for awalker.

[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,065 to Chiu discloses a hand brake thatincludes a main frame fixedly mounted on a handlebar of the walker, acontrol lever pivotally connected to the main frame, a brake memberpivotally connected to the control lever to locate in a working space ofthe control lever, and a steel cable connected to the brake member. Withchanges in positions of the control lever, the brake member is caused tochange its position in the working space of the control lever to pullthe steel cable and thereby to either brake the wheeled walker, to brakeand park the wheeled walker, or to return the walker to a non-brakestate.

[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,779 to Biersteker et al. discloses a manuallyoperated brake actuator for a wheeled walker and the like. For normalbraking, a handle is manually moved from a neutral first positiontowards a second position for rotating a cable link to progressivelypull on a brake cable to engage a wheel brake. When the handle isreleased, it returns to the first position. When the handle is manuallymoved from the first position to a third position, a parking link isrotated to push on and rotate the cable link to engage the brake. Theparking link is rotated to a stable position when the handle is in thethird position, wherein pull on the brake cable cannot release the brakeuntil the handle is manually moved back to the first position.

[0022] U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,765 to Hsi-Chia discloses a brake controldevice that is mounted on a handle of a walking frame used by a lame orelderly person as an aid in walking. The device includes a seat fastenedat one end thereof with the handle, and a control handlebar fastened atone end thereof with the seat. The seat is provided with a control armand a stop member. The control arm is fastened with the controlhandlebar and is connected with one end of a brake cable. The controlarm is actuated by the control handlebar to swivel so as to pull thebrake cable to bring about the braking action which can be sustainedwithout having to keep holding the control handlebar. The controlhandlebar is made stationary temporarily by a rolling rod which isforced into a retaining recess of the stop member for sustaining thebraking action.

[0023] U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,533 to Meltzer discloses a walking cane thatincludes function enhancing elements, the cane including a sing of asubstantially vertical elongated support member having an upper end, alower end and a longitudinal axis. A handle is complementally positionedabout the support member's upper end for selectable radial rotationrelative to the longitudinal axis thereof. Forward and rear anddownwardly integrally dependent legs rigidly extend from the supportmember's lower end, the legs each having a body portion and footportions. The wheels are rotatably secured to each of the foot portionsof the forward legs of a base, and friction-enhancing tips areintegrally associated with each of the foot portions of the rearwardlegs of the base.

[0024] U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,453 to Nasco discloses a wheel mounted canesecured to extend laterally from a four-wheeled carriage for use insupporting and balancing a user while walking and including anadjustable braking means for the carriage.

[0025] While the foregoing patents disclose improvements in the area ofwalking aids, none of these patents disclose a walking cane thatprovides the added support of a broader base, but is relatively easy forthe user to maneuver, and includes a braking system that is relativelysimple to install and actuate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0026] There is therefore provided a walking cane, for supporting andbalancing a user, and allowing a user to retard forward motion. Thewalking cane includes a base, having a wheel rotatably coupled thereto.The cane further includes a braking member, coupled to and positionedrelatively above the base, having a contact portion that contacts thewheel to retard the wheel's rotation when a threshold downward force isapplied to the cane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The present invention will be understood more fully from thedetailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings ofthe preferred embodiment of the invention, which, however, should not betaken to limit to the invention, but are for explanation andunderstanding only.

[0028]FIG. 1 is an oblique elevational perspective view of an embodimentof a braking cane according to the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 2 is a broken top view of an embodiment of the braking memberaccording to the present invention.

[0030]FIG. 3(a) is a side sectional view taken along 3-3 in FIG. 2.

[0031]FIG. 3(b) is a side sectional view taken along 3-3 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0032] Referring generally to FIG. 1, there is shown an embodiment of awalking cane 10 according to the present invention. The walking cane 10consists of an elongate shaft 12, which has at one end a handle portion14. At the other end, the shaft 12 is coupled to a support base 11. Thesupport base 11 consists of a base member 20 and a braking member 18.One or more wheels 16 is rotatably coupled to the base member 20. Thebase member 20 and braking member 18 are two substantially triangularplates. The braking member 18 is positioned above the base member 20,creating a space 22. In this embodiment, three wheels 16 are coupled tothe base member 20 at approximately the three corners of the triangle.

[0033]FIG. 2 depicts a more detailed view of the wheel 16, base member20 and braking member 18 in one embodiment of the present invention. Thebase member 20, seen in FIG. 2, has a base notch 13. The wheel 16 isrotatably coupled to the base member 20 by an axle 26. However, it isnoted that other means of rotatably coupling the wheel 16 to the basemember 20 would be apparent to one skilled in the art.

[0034] The base notch 13 extends deep enough into the base member 20 sothat the wheel 16 is unobstructed in its rotation by the bottom edge 34of the base notch 13 or any part of the base member 20. The brakingmember 18 is positioned approximately above the base member 20 and alsohas a brake notch 24 that is not as deep as the base notch 13. The sidewall 38 of the base member 20 and the side wall 21 of the braking member18 are also shown.

[0035] FIGS. 3(a) and (b) show in greater detail the braking system 33according to the present invention. As is evident from the drawings, thebraking member 18 has a first position (FIG. 3(a)) and a second position(FIG. 3(b)). In the first position, braking member 18 is held at aheight h₁ above the base member 20 by a resilient member, illustrated asa spring 30. It is noted that while in this first position, there is aspace, designated by height h₃, located between the contact portion 36of the brake notch 24 and the surface of the wheel 16.

[0036] When a threshold amount of pressure P₁ is applied to the elongateshaft 12, this force is translated down the shaft 12 to the brakingmember 18. The bottom surface 15 of the braking member 18 thencompresses the spring 30, as shown in FIG. 3(b), until the brakingmember 18 is at a height h₂ relative to the base member 20 and h₃ goesto zero. This compression also results in the contact point 36contacting the surface of the wheel 16, thus retarding the rotation ofthe wheel 16.

[0037] Once the threshold amount of pressure is no longer applied, thespring 30 will recoil to its original, non-braking position (FIG. 3(a)),and the braking member 18 will return to its height, h₁, relative to thebase member 20.

[0038] In FIGS. 3(a) and (b), a shaft stabilizer 28 is shown coupled tothe base member 20 and extending, through a hole 40 in the brakingmember 18, into the elongate shaft 12. Optional rod stabilizers 32,coupled to the base member 20, are also shown in FIGS. 3(a) and (b). Thestabilizers 28, 32 can be used to hold the individual components of thewalking cane 10 together. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS.3(a) and (b), the braking member 18 is coupled to the elongate shaft 12.The braking member 18 is also slidably coupled to the base member 20through the rod stabilizers 32. The rod stabilizers 32 are coupled onone end to the base member 20. On the other end, the stabilizers 32 mayhave a retainer 31 that prevents them from becoming disengaged from thebraking member 18. Both the rod stabilizers 32 and the shaft stabilizers28 can be used separately or in conjunction with each other.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3(a) and (b), the shaftstabilizer 28 is coupled at one end to the base member 20. The other endis slidably engaged with the elongate shaft 12. In this manner the shaftstabilizer 28 helps prevent lateral movement of the braking member 18relative to the base member 20. Additionally, the shaft stabilizer 28provides a surface around which the spring 30 is wound.

[0040] These two types of stabilizers are given only as examples, andnumerous other ways of coupling the braking member 18, base member 20and elongate shaft 12 would be apparent to one skilled in the art. Forexample, a resilient member, such as a spring 30, could be coupled tothe top surface 35 of the base member 20 and the bottom surface 15 ofthe braking member 18.

[0041] Variations of the Invention

[0042] It is noted that FIG. 1 depicts the walking cane 10 of thepresent invention as having three wheels 16. However, any number ofwheels 16, as would be practicable, could be used in connection with thepresent invention. For example, in one embodiment, the walking cane hasonly one wheel.

[0043] It is also noted that, rather than having a triangularconfiguration, the base member 20 and braking member 18 could utilizeany shape as would be practicable. For example, the base member 20 couldbe square, rectangular, non-symmetrical, oval or circular. Moreover, thebase member 20 and braking member 18 are not required to be the sameshape. For example, the base member 20 could be square and the brakingmember 18 circular so long as the notches 24 and contact points 36 werepositioned according to the configuration of the wheels 16.

[0044] In another embodiment of the present invention, more than onewheel 16 is coupled to the base member 20, but not all the wheels 16 arebraked. For example, the base member 20 may have five wheels 16, butonly one of the wheels 16 is braked by the mechanism depicted in FIGS.3(a) and (b).

[0045] It is also noted that the threshold pressure may vary from caneto cane. For example, depending on the weight of the user, it may bedesirable to utilize a spring 30 that will compress under a relativelylow amount of pressure. Alternatively, it may be desirable to utilize aspring 30 that is highly resistant to compression. The spring'sresistance to compression may also be adjustable (e.g. the spring can bewound to a desired tightness, thus resulting in a particular resistanceto compression).

[0046] It is also noted that other means, beside a spring 30, may beused as the resilient member. For example, a gas-filled piston may beused to maintain the braking member 18 in a non-braking position until athreshold pressure is applied to the braking member 18. Compressiblesynthetic materials, such as rubber may also be used as the resilientmember.

[0047] It is also noted that, while the resilient member 30 is shownwound around the shaft stabilizer 28 in FIGS. 3(a) and (b), theresilient member 30 could, in fact, be located any place between thebase member 20 and braking member 18. For example, referring to FIGS.3(a) and (b), the resilient member 30 could be a spring wound around therod stabilizer 32. The resilient member 30 could also be independent ofany vertically oriented piece. For example, the resilient member 30could be a spring coupled to the bottom surface 15 of the braking member18 and the top surface 35 of the base member 20.

[0048] In FIGS. 1-3(b), the contact portion 36 is shown as being an edgeof the brake notch. However, the contact portion can be any portion ofthe braking member that is capable of contacting the wheel to retardrotation. For example, in one embodiment, the braking member does nothave a notch. Rather, while in its first position, the braking member issituated entirely above the wheel. When the threshold amount of pressureis applied, the braking member is directed downward until it contactsthe wheel, thus retarding the wheel's rotation.

[0049] Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may bedevised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention and the appended claims are intendedto cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the presentinvention has been described above with particularity and detail inconnection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical andpreferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, butnot limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function,manner of operation, assembly, and use may be made without departingfrom the principles and concepts set forth herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A walking cane, for supporting and balancing auser, and allowing a user to brake forward motion, comprising: a) abase, having a wheel rotatably coupled thereto; b) a braking member,coupled to and positioned relatively above the base, having: i) acontact portion; ii) a first position, where the contact portion is notin contact with the wheel; and iii) a second position, where at least aportion of the braking member is lower in height than the first positionand where the contact portion is in contact with the wheel; c) anelongate shaft, coupled to the braking member, and designed to supportand balance the user; and d) a resilient member, positioned between thebase and the braking member, that is: i) designed to maintain thebraking member in the first, non-braking position when a thresholdamount of pressure is not exceeded; and ii) designed to allow a secondbraking position, when the threshold amount of pressure is exceeded,that places the braking member in contact with the wheel.
 2. The walkingcane of claim 1, wherein the base is a plate.
 3. The walking cane ofclaim 1, wherein the braking member is a plate.
 4. The walking cane ofclaim 1, wherein the contact portion is an edge of a notch.
 5. Thewalking cane of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is a spring. 6.The walking cane of claim 4, wherein the braking member is substantiallya triangle in shape.
 7. The walking cane of claim 6, wherein the notchis at a corner of the triangle.
 8. The walking cane of claim 7, furthercomprising a second and third notch at a second and third corner of thetriangle respectively.
 9. The walking cane of claim 1, wherein the baseis substantially a triangle in shape.
 10. The walking cane of claim 9,wherein the wheel is coupled to the base at a corner of the triangle.11. The walking cane of claim 10, further comprising a second and thirdwheel coupled to the base at a second and third corner of the trianglerespectively.
 12. The walking cane of claim 1, further comprising ahandle portion on an end of the elongate shaft opposite the coupling tothe braking member.
 13. The walking cane of claim 1, further comprisinga stabilizer, coupled to the base, and designed to substantially preventlateral movement of the braking member relative to the base.
 14. Thewalking cane of claim 13, wherein the stabilizer extends through a firststabilizer hole in the braking member and into a hollow portion of theelongate shaft.
 15. The walking cane of claim 14, wherein the stabilizeris a rod.
 15. The walking cane of claim 13, wherein the stabilizerextends through a second stabilizer hole in the braking member, that isadjacent to the coupling of the elongate shaft.
 16. A walking cane, forsupporting and balancing a user, and allowing a user to retard forwardmotion, comprising: a) a base, having a wheel rotatably coupled thereto;and b) a braking member, coupled to and positioned relatively above thebase, having: i) a contact portion that contacts the wheel to retard thewheel's rotation when a threshold downward force is applied to the cane.